Basketball and Bumbling, Blundering Bureaucrats

The Robert Beren Academy in Houston is a shining example of a modern Orthodox Jewish school that combines the best of high level academics with Jewish religious study. Its students excel in secular and Judaic scholarship and go on to prestigious colleges and universities across America. They also happen to have an excellent high school basketball team that has had an outstanding season. But, that season is about to come to an end.

The school, like many private and parochial schools in Texas, belongs to an association that, among other things, sponsors sports tournaments for those affiliated schools who participate in athletic programs. And, as the Beren Academy basketball team marched toward victory after victory, it was ready, willing and able to continue through the championship playoff series sponsored by the private school association.

Unfortunately, there were two problems. The playoff games were scheduled during the Jewish Sabbath, which precluded the school’s participation. And, the association backed themselves into a rigid corner and refused to provide flexibility to accommodate the school’s religious requirements. Like a bunch of bumbling, blundering bureaucrats, the association – which has altered its rules in the past to accommodate other schools – stood its ground without any sensitivity to a group of faithful Jewish students.

While the school has garnered immense good will from media outlets, personalities and organizations across the U.S., the private school association has been marginalized and diminished in its capacity to be an inclusive and effective association for private schools – of all faiths.

In a country that is now defined by its openness, multi-ethnic/religious sensitivity and genuine desire to be respectful of all faiths, it is hard to believe that this is even happening. Yet it is. And, despite gargantuan efforts and appeals, the association stood firm in its decision when it revisited the issue yet again.

The Beren Academy students will be fine. They have been true to their faith and observance as Jews. They have held their heads high. The school will continue its outstanding academic achievements going forward. I only hope that the association will recognize the tortuous path it is on and rethink its mission and how it treats its affiliated schools.